Astros’ Offense Explodes in 11-5 Victory Against Diamondbacks

After being swept by the Reds earlier in the week, I was admittedly anxious going into the series against the Diamondbacks. Arizona boasts one of the top lineups in baseball, and the Astros’ offense hadn’t been firing on all cylinders. Their previous game saw them shut out with little energy. While it’s hard to judge a lineup based on one game, the reality is that Houston lacks above-average hitters, especially in the bottom half of the order, and the absence of Kyle Tucker hasn’t helped.

However, my concerns didn’t last long, at least not on Saturday. With Tucker still easing back, Alex Bregman stepped up, and the Astros’ offense finally came alive. Only Jake Meyers and Ben Gamel went hitless, but the rest of the lineup delivered. Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez each had three hits, and Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña added two hits apiece. Peña’s three-run homer in the sixth inning sealed the game, as Houston scored 11 runs, most of which came off Arizona pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Dylan Floro. With the Mariners gaining ground in the AL West, this offensive explosion was a welcome sight. If Tucker gets back to form soon, I’m more confident in this lineup heading into the postseason.

On the mound, Yusei Kikuchi wasn’t at his best, with his velocity dipping, but he held Arizona to four runs, including two homers. Despite a shaky second inning, Kikuchi settled in, though a couple of solo shots later kept things tense. By the time he exited, Houston led by just one run, but the offense opened the floodgates in the bottom of the sixth. With a 10-4 lead, it seemed the bullpen could relax. However, Caleb Ferguson ran into trouble in the seventh, allowing Christian Walker to cut the lead to 10-5. Joe Espada turned to Bryan Abreu, who shut things down, and Ronel Blanco closed the game with two scoreless innings, his velocity showing the potential impact he could have in a postseason bullpen role.

Overall, it was a great day for the Astros. The offense clicked without Tucker, and while the pitching staff had some shaky moments, they kept things in check until the bats exploded. With the Mariners losing to the Cardinals, Houston’s AL West lead grew to 5 1/2 games. Not a bad day at all.